As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, some federal workers are opting out of the festivities. These employees, who were once proud of their national service, are now exhausted and angry after President Donald Trump’s sweeping overhaul of the federal government.

Overhaul and Its Aftermath

The overhaul saw political purges, mass terminations, and drastic spending cuts, leaving many federal workers feeling wronged. Edward, a 30-year military veteran, is one such employee who has lost his enthusiasm for the Fourth of July celebrations. He says he is angry and ashamed of the current state of the country.

Jonas, a program analyst at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was also affected by the overhaul. He lost his job but was rehired six months later. However, during his time without a job, he had to dip into his savings and ask for family help to pay for medical appointments.

Low Morale and Frustration

The morale among federal workers is low, with many feeling overworked and undervalued. Some employees at the Social Security field office in South Texas are not in the mood to celebrate the Fourth of July, citing the agency’s loss of workers and increased workload. A supervisor at a Florida airport is also feeling bitter, saying that the spending on national events is a slap in the face when federal workers are still dealing with the aftermath of the government shutdown.

The federal workforce has shrunk by more than 278,000 under Trump, with some agencies being dismantled or shut down. The destruction has rippled across the country, with surviving employees forced to take on extra responsibilities and keep their heads down to avoid more reductions in force and devastating government shutdowns.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.